Composting and fermentation
Vegetable, fruit and garden (VFG) waste is turned into compost and sustainable energy at Twence. This provides us with heat, electricity and valuable raw materials for the soil.
From VFG to energy and compost
VFG waste from households, green waste from municipalities and past-by-date products serve as input for our plants. Through the process of fermentation and composting we ultimately make, certified compost and in the longer term, biofuel. We convert biogas into electricity and heat and supply it to the region as a form of sustainable energy. Certified compost (Keurcompost) is suitable for use on agricultural land. The wood fraction that remains after composting and fermentation is processed into sustainable energy in our biomass power plant. We are also researching whether we can extract even more valuable raw materials from VFG. We do this, amongst others, in the Volatile project, where we are researching whether we can recover fatty acids from VFG.
Why should we use composting and fermentation?
By composting and fermenting organic material, we preserve valuable raw materials for our communities and we are able to generate and supply sustainable energy. This is how we contribute to a bio-based economy: a circular cycle drawn from biological sources. The compost that we extract from VFG waste is returned to the soil in Twente. Nutrients in our compost stimulate the optimal growth of crops and improve water management in agriculture. It also replaces a proportion of animal manure and artificial fertiliser.
Composting and fermentation process
Our Composting and Fermentation Plant plays a central role in the composting and fermentation process. The waste collectors deliver their VFG waste to Twence, where it is separated out into fine and coarse waste. The fine waste is fermented in the digester over a period of about 16 days into compostable digestate and biogas. We harvest this biogas and transport it to a central gas sphere, where we also take the biogas from materials that have passed their expiry date and from our landfill sites. We convert the gas into heat and electricity for households and businesses in Twente. We also use part of it to make LBG biofuel. The coarse biological waste goes directly to our composting plant. This is also where the compostable digestate ends up once it has been in the post-digester. The composting tunnel is where the end product, compost, is created.
Results
Replaces a proportion of animal manure and artificial fertiliser
Keurcompost replaces a proportion of animal manure and artificial fertiliser. When Keurcompost is used, less nitrogen and phosphate penetrates the groundwater than when animal manure and artificial fertilisers are used.
Better soil structure
Keurcompost in the soil helps foster a more active soil life. The earthworm, for example, likes to pull the plant remains into the soil, thereby improving the structure of the soil. Consequently, worms improve water infiltration and help plants to take root more deeply.News and projects about composting and fermentation
Contact us
Any questions or comments?
Do you have any questions about composting and fermentation? We'd love to hear what's on your mind. Please fill in the form and we will get in touch with you.
Arno Wilbers
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